Research has shown that having some defined screen limits in a home is associated with positive outcomes with academics as well as with emotional and physical health.
Okay, but that's way easier said than done. And yes, with the pandemic, everything has gotten topsy turvy with screen time limits.
Screen time needs to be divided into two main categories. There is screen time as a tool, i.e., school, work, learning, conversations, etc. Then there is screen time around consuming, i.e., watching shows, scrolling social media, playing games, etc.
I am referring today to screen limits around the consuming aspect of screen time. And yes, the same device does both things, so your child may well claim that limitations will limit their tool use. True, AND, getting some breaks from screens is healthy and learning to manage screen time is vital so that when there are breaks from screens, you were prepared not to need it as a tool.
Sorting out time off of screens is an art, and it is all about working with our kids in doing so.
Spring is a good time for "spring cleaning" and a "spring reset"… a time to reevaluate and reset screen-time limits. I am not talking about some gigantic reset; just one or two small tweaks may be in order.
One of the things author and long-time school counselor Tammy Hudson Fisher always reminds parents is, "Life is full of rules. We have to let our kids know they are capable young people and they are indeed capable of following rules."
She also tells parents how key it is that their children have the opportunity to practice following rules in their homes.
Creating limits is super challenging, and today to address these challenges, I share a section from my book, Parenting in the Screen Age. And speaking of the book, consider joining me (and many others) online tomorrow for this months' Chapter Club about sleep - something so many of our kids and ourselves can benefit from a reset.
Saugatuck Public Schools 
Research has shown that having some defined screen limits in a home is associated with positive outcomes with academics as well as with emotional and physical health.
Okay, but that's way easier said than done. And yes, with the pandemic, everything has gotten topsy turvy with screen time limits.
Screen time needs to be divided into two main categories. There is screen time as a tool, i.e., school, work, learning, conversations, etc. Then there is screen time around consuming, i.e., watching shows, scrolling social media, playing games, etc.
I am referring today to screen limits around the consuming aspect of screen time. And yes, the same device does both things, so your child may well claim that limitations will limit their tool use. True, AND, getting some breaks from screens is healthy and learning to manage screen time is vital so that when there are breaks from screens, you were prepared not to need it as a tool.
Sorting out time off of screens is an art, and it is all about working with our kids in doing so.
Spring is a good time for "spring cleaning" and a "spring reset"… a time to reevaluate and reset screen-time limits. I am not talking about some gigantic reset; just one or two small tweaks may be in order.
One of the things author and long-time school counselor Tammy Hudson Fisher always reminds parents is, "Life is full of rules. We have to let our kids know they are capable young people and they are indeed capable of following rules."
She also tells parents how key it is that their children have the opportunity to practice following rules in their homes.
Creating limits is super challenging, and today to address these challenges, I share a section from my book, Parenting in the Screen Age. And speaking of the book, consider joining me (and many others) online tomorrow for this months' Chapter Club about sleep - something so many of our kids and ourselves can benefit from a reset.